Two long-necked crocodiles were tied up and shivering against an iron pillar.

Hatway controlled the Wasteland Armor and gestured at them: "The company has repeatedly ordered against false claims. You two brazenly came to scam the company's relocation subsidies, not much skill, but quite some nerve."

"Just trying to make a living..."

The voice of one of the long-necked crocodiles came through a translator: "Although we don't live here permanently, we occasionally come by, so we're considered half-residents, aren't we... Please, let us go... We don't want the subsidies anymore, isn't that fine?"

"Cut the crap!"

Hatway was furious: "Damn it, you're all shameless, do you believe I'll shoot you right here on the spot!"

It raised its mechanical prosthetic limb, aiming the Gatling gun on its arm at the two long-necked crocodiles.

The two con artists were so scared their eyes turned green.

"Don't shoot, don't shoot!"

"Let's talk it out... Please, don't shoot, we're begging you..."

"Tell me the truth!"

With a loud shout, Hatway demanded.

The two long-necked crocodiles finally broke down.

"We... were hired by the Friendship Association."

"We were just doing it for the money, they said there'd be at least 100 Light Seeds in relocation subsidies... We didn't expect it'd turn out like this, they said at worst we'd be detained for a while, nobody mentioned anything about risking our lives..."

Hatway felt a sinking feeling.

The name Friendship Association sounds harmless, but it's actually a major Sea People Gang in the Dead Sea of the Western Continent, with over ten thousand members spread around many cities, wielding significant influence.

There's an organization pulling the strings behind them.

Recently, many claims from relocating households had issues. That's why the company tasked the security department to investigate thoroughly.

The two long-necked crocodile con artists were thrown into the company's dungeon.

Hatway operated the wasteland mecha all the way to the security department's headquarters, Building No. 10 in Jade City.

It parked the mecha at the docking station downstairs, then took the elevator to the top floor where the minister's office was.

Minister Lie Hai, at that moment, was stretching its floral body and tendrils, basking in the sunlight.

Hatway reported: "Minister, it's confirmed, the Friendship Association is also involved in the relocation subsidy fraud."

Minister: "Do you know how to handle it?"

Hatway nodded: "Arrest the principal offenders, punish accomplices, to serve as a warning to others."

Lie Hai said calmly: "Then set out now."

"Yes."

Hatway immediately went to the main department's Executive Bureau first, reported the law enforcement mission, and then teamed up with their partner, the Electric Soul named Fire Ring, for the field operation.

The Electric Soul itself possesses extremely powerful flight and explosive capabilities.

Hatway entered the law enforcement Wasteland Armor, surrounded by a massive light arc formed by the electric arc, with beams of light shooting out from the back, racing all the way to the destination.

Along the way, Hatway said: "Sorry, you're still on vacation and we're dragging you into a mission... This time it's a cross-region operation on the Western Continent, only with you can we manage it."

"I have nothing else to do anyway."

Fire Ring didn't really mind: "There's no concept of vacation on Mars. After coming to the company, due to the lack of a sense of crisis and no pressure, no big or medium-sized dust storms to dodge, no flying rod attacks, didn't quite know what to do... I quite like working."

"Although the intensity is low, being able to move a bit, doing nothing, instead feels strange, somewhat unacceptable."

Hatway felt a bit helpless.

That's the innate gap.

For a Sea Person like itself, being able to attend Mushroom Forest Primary School and secure a job at the company after graduation was already a very lucky and extremely smooth life.

Yet, even with so many resources, it was only at C-level strength, still a distance from B-level.

Mars Electric Soul Fire Ring, this guy is a Light Core Body.

Initially, when Hatway heard that this person was its new partner, it wondered if the minister was playing a joke on it.

The minister said: "The reason for choosing you is because you're clever and have a nice personality. Fire Ring is the first Electric Soul to join the company from Mars and come to the main department, it needs some time to adapt to our lifestyle here. You should not only become work partners but also strive to become friends in life."

Originally, Hatway felt.

The other party was a high-status Light Core Body, while it was just a lousy C-level, the class gap was too large, fearing it wouldn't be able to communicate and converse at all.

However, Fire Ring unexpectedly turned out to be easygoing and elegant.

This partner had none of the aloof bearing typical of a Light Core Body, easier to get along with than many colleagues.

Its life was simple, either sleeping in late on normal days or flying up to the high-altitude satellite orbit—it liked observing satellites up close.

Various thoughts flashed through Hatway's mind.

At this moment, a prompt sound came from the Wasteland Armor.

[Approaching the destination.]

[Please, Law Enforcement Officer, be prepared, the law enforcement process will be recorded in real-time, you must be cautious and abide by company and security department rules and regulations.]

The Law Enforcement Recorder had already turned on automatically.

Hatway immediately shifted into work mode.

It and the Electric Soul infiltrated the Dead Sea, below was the headquarters of the Friendship Association.

Compared to the commercial groups and regional autonomous organizations of the East Continent's Sea People Gangs, the Western Continent's Sea People Gangs were solidly armed entities, with military posts and camps all around the vicinity.

Sure enough, quite a few Sea People were at the sea floor, all raising their weapons at the incoming intruders.

Hatway simply used a loudspeaker to inform them: "Wasteland Development Company at work. I am Hatway, a Law Enforcement Officer from the company's security department, here for the investigation of the relocation subsidy fraud case, requesting a meeting with the gang leader."

Hearing this.

The Sea People gang members looked at each other. But the company's name was still effective, and they instinctively lowered their weapons.

Soon.

A Sea People leader stepped out, speaking in a heavy Western Continent accent: "Our Friendship Association has nothing to do with any relocation, you've come to the wrong place, leave."

Hatway simply repeated: "Requesting a meeting with the gang leader."

"When I say leave, you leave! Are you looking for trouble?"

The voice of the other party grew louder.

The Sea People gang members raised their guns again, aiming at Hatway, the situation on-site became tense.

Hatway said again: "I'm not here to negotiate."

"Please hand over the principal and accomplices."

"Otherwise, we can only conclude that this employment of long-necked crocodiles for fraud was an organized act by the Friendship Association, aimed at defrauding and extracting funds from the company, while provoking and enlarging conflicts between the company and the original relocation residents."

"Please cooperate."

The leader on the other side suddenly became furious, his body instantly enlarging. He grabbed a heavy rocket launcher and pressed it against the forehead of the Wasteland Armor: "This is the Western Continent, the territory of the Friendship Association, not your company's place! Don't think you can do whatever you want everywhere!"

He pressed harder.

The pressure made Hatway's mech stagger back half a step.

Facing the Sea People Gang's siege.

Hatway just steadied himself and said, "If everyone can cooperate with my company, I would be very grateful. If you are unwilling to cooperate, that would be very unfortunate."

As soon as these words were spoken,

The previously aggressive leader found himself speechless for a moment.

Although many gun barrels were still pointed at the lone Hatway, the Sea People appeared even more tense.

Hatway slowly bent down and picked up a magnetic metal plate that had fallen on the ground, which had the words [Law Enforcement] written on it. He pasted it back on his chest.

It had fallen off earlier due to being hit by the rocket launcher tube.

The scene was quiet to the point of eeriness.

Suddenly.

A voice came from behind the gang members.

"I'll give you the people."

Two Sea People, tightly bound, were pushed out.

The speaker was a sparsely-haired Sea Person, exuding an aura of authority.

"I am the leader of the Friendship Association, and the fraud was their private action, unrelated to the Friendship Association. Our poor management resulted in this incident. We deeply apologize and hope your company can forgive us."

The other party bowed slightly.

Hatway aimed the Law Enforcement Device's camera at the two suspects: "Thank you for your cooperation."

Then he took the two criminals and left immediately.

Until the Wasteland Armor completely disappeared without a trace.

The previously aggressive leader couldn't help saying: "Boss, this Wasteland Development Company is too arrogant. We should teach them a lesson so they don't look down on us..."

A Sea Person next to him slapped him hard, leaving him a little dazed.

"Idiot."

"If the boss hadn't stepped in just now, you'd be dead."

The Sea Person who slapped him said coldly: "Did you see that electric glow behind the Law Enforcement Officer? That's called an Electric Soul, a Light Core Body. Don't drag the gang into death with you."

The leader touched his face, looking frightened: "Light, Light Core Body..."

The gang leader said calmly: "Investigate thoroughly who else in the gang is related to this subsidy fraud. Follow through to give the Wasteland Development Company an explanation. We can't let this incident affect our application for the Artificial Sun."

"Yes!"

...

Interrogating the two main Sea People perpetrators went smoothly after bringing them back.

These two had always been adept at exploiting rules for excessive profits. This time they targeted the company's demolition compensation, thinking that with Wasteland Company's extensive resources, they wouldn't care about this small benefit, so they hatched this misguided plan.

No organization would now want to be at odds with the company.

Opposing the company is not only futile but also financially disadvantageous.

The demolition and redevelopment of the Dead Sea continued, and even an ordinary employee like Hatway could see its incalculable value.

In this world, the most valuable thing is usable land.

The land swallowed by the Dead Sea reemerged in the world through the company's power.

The world's landscape is undergoing a massive reshuffling; no group would want to miss this opportunity, so they must keep up with the company's pace and team.

Hatway went to the Security Department to report and archived the Law Enforcement Recorder.

"Well done."

Director Lie Hai praised: "From when you were still in Mushroom Forest Primary School, I felt you are well-suited for our department's work, and time has proved me right."

"Hatway, repeat the duties of our Security Department."

"To protect the company's victories and development achievements!"

"Hmm."

The lifeform shaped like a giant flower slowly said: "The image of all departments in the company to the outside world is one of amiability, tolerance, and generosity, but kindness alone is not enough. Our Security Department must assume the role of severity and ferocity."

"In short, we are the company's designated villains."

"To prevent uncontrolled violence, we have established a set of rules and procedures to restrain ourselves, to prevent such power from being imposed limitlessly outward, as that would be abuse, not protection."

"You are the apprentice I have cultivated from a student step by step. I hope you always remember to follow the rules and act according to them—strong individuals must learn to restrain themselves. This is not self-distortion, but a natural law of long-term stable coexistence with the outside world."

"Yes, Master!"

Lie Hai finally touched the young Sea Person's head with a tentacle: "Very well done, go and rest."

...

After leaving the building.

Hatway went to Yalong Bay after work to have some fruit ice.

In the sky, the massive Artificial Sun was emitting light, blocking a large amount of Death Light. This allowed the area previously shrouded in light fog to reappear, becoming a space where people here could move about.

Those areas had already begun reclamation and construction.

While eating ice, Hatway suddenly heard a voice.

"Ah Hai, why do you think the Chairman is going to such great lengths for demolition? Even compensating those indigenous people?"

It was Fire Ring.

It floated high in the sky, but the voice of the Light Core Body was strong enough to cross the long distance.

"The Chairman is a true strong person who restrains his own power."

Hatway recalled the words of the Director.

"He wants to get along well with the entire world, to respect other life forms instead of destroying or enslaving them."

"Get along well? What benefit is there? The Chairman's power is already enough to make all beings follow his will..."

"This way, he can have many friends."

"Just like us two, although your power is far greater than mine, you restrained yourself and chose to be friends with someone as weak as me."

Fire Ring said: "So that's how it is..."

Hatway took a bite of the iced fruit: "Both possessing unparalleled power, the Heavenly People instill fear, while the Chairman commands respect and allegiance. This is the reason for the company's existence."